Sacramental Policies

Baptism is a joyful event for families and the parish alike. In Baptism a person is initiated and welcomed into the Church by receiving the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The following are the parent guidelines:

We want our young people to receive the Sacraments in relationship with the primary people in their lives; namely, their parents. Therefore, parents must be registered parishioners and express a willingness to practice their faith and to raise their child as a Catholic. They are encouraged to rely upon the commitment and responsibility of the larger faith community to assist them in the religious formation of their child. At Baptism, for example, a child's godparents represent the Church community pledging its support to help parents raise their children as Christians.

Parents and Godparents must participate in the preparation program and acquaint themselves with the role of being Christian parents and becoming an integral part of the faith community. Baptism preparation classes are held on the second Monday of every month at 8:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. Parents/Godparents are asked to speak with the priest or deacon performing the Baptism before coming to the instruction class.

Baptisms are celebrated on the first and third Sunday of the month after the 12:00 noon Mass at about 1:00 p.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST

The family must be registered and regularly participate at Sunday Mass in the parish. The child must be baptized and have a baptism certificate. The ordinary time for the celebration of the sacrament is the third grade but this may be delayed at parental or Staff discretion. The child must participate in the Religious Education Program for the first, second and third grades, and have an adequate understanding of the Eucharist and the Church.

RECONCILIATION

The family must be registered and regular participants at Sunday Mass in the parish. The child must be baptized and have a baptism certificate. The ordinary time for the celebration of the Sacrament is the third grade but this may be delayed at parental or Staff discretion.

The child must participate in the Religious Education Program for the first, second and third grades, and have an adequate understanding of sin and forgiveness.

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is a Sacrament of full initiation into the Catholic Church. In accord with the directive issued by the Diocese of Paterson through our Bishop, the parish community of Saint Peter's will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation in the sophomore year of high school, at the end of a two year course of study, prayer and service. The program itself is part of the parish's Youth Ministry Program.

Saint Peter's Parish will accept candidates at the end of the eighth grade after determining their faithfulness in the formative years of Religious Education and their readiness to journey further. We will then prepare them over a two-year period to celebrate the sacrament in the tenth grade providing that certain standards have been met.

The circumstances of young people moving into the parish through relocation who are in tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade will be considered individually to determine what is best for his/her needs. The parish staff reserves the right to review unique situations.

Those young people who decide to postpone Confirmation are still most welcome to participate fully in the Youth Ministry Program.

For those young people who attend Catholic high school, we expect that they will participate as full members of this program. Their insights and experience can greatly profit the other young people in our parish. It is necessary that all the young people build community through the Youth Ministry at Youth gatherings. This participation will develop a real experience of community among all the youth of our parish.

The following are the guidelines:

The family must be registered and regular participants at Sunday Mass in the parish.

The Confirmation candidate must have a continuous record of participation in religious education from elementary and intermediate school. Make up classes must be arranged in cooperation with the Directress of Religious Education.

The candidate must participate at all the Confirmation sessions (every other week for ten (10) sessions each year) and in two days of prayer and two overnight retreat experiences during the preparation program.

The candidate will be responsible for a yearly service project.

The candidate will have a personal interview with a member of the Staff prior to entrance into the program.

MARRIAGE

One party must be registered and a regular participant at Sunday Mass in this parish. New Jersey Common Marriage Policy requires couples to contact a parish priest one year prior to the marriage date. (It is important to contact the priest first in order to select a wedding date before making reception arrangements).

The couple may choose to participate in either Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter as a part of their preparation. The couple will need to meet several times with one of the parish priests or deacons. The couple needs an adequate understanding and acceptance of the principles and goals of Christian marriage.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK

The Sacrament of Anointing should be administered to those who are seriously ill; it is not a Sacrament only for those who have reached the end of their lives. A person in danger of death from sickness or old age should be anointed. Any sick person who is seriously ill as well as anyone preparing for surgery may be anointed. Elderly people may be anointed even though no illness has been diagnosed.